Arch-support.



E. CARAVIA.

ARCH SUPPORT APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I2, I916.

1,260,868. Patented Mar.26,1918.

EUGENE CABAVIA, OF NEW YORK N. Y.

oH-snrroa'r.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. as, rare.

Application filed September 12, 1916. Serial No. 119,786.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE CARAVIA, a citizen of the United States,residing at borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York'and State ofNew York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Arch-Supports, ofwhich the following is a specification.

It is a well known fact that in shoe production, ametallic shank isemployed, constituting a reinforcing element which is ar ranged beneaththe insole of the shoe, extending approximately from the point occupiedby the ball of the foot to the heel of the shoe. It is the purpose of myinvention to utilize this shank in the capacity of an arch support, byforming the shank in a manner to conform to the arch of the foot, andfrom suitable material whereby the article will automatically adjustitself'to the foot during the act of walking, with a view. of supportingthe instep or arch of the foot in its proper position under allconditions.

The nature and advantages of the inven tion will be. better understoodwhen the fol lowing description is read in connection with theaccompanying drawing, the invention residing in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawing forming part of this specification like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts in the several views and wheresoleshowing the arch support associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through a shoe constructed inaccordance with my invention. I J

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the arch support removed from the insole.

Referring more particularly to the drawing in detail A indicatesgenerally a shoe constructed in the usual and well known manner, theinsole being indicated at 10. The metallic shank generally employed as areinforcing element and positioned beneath the insole 10, consists of aperfectly straight strip of material, but in accordance with myinvention this shank (not shown.) is substituted by an arch-shapedmember of suitable dimensions clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, andconstructed from resilient material. While the arch-shaped member mayconsist of a single strip of resilient material, it is prefermade up ofa plurality of such strips Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of aninindicated at 11 and 12 respectively, these strips being riveted orotherwise secured together at one end of the member, while the strip 11at its opposite end terminates short of the corresponding extremities ofthe strip 12. It will be further noted that these strips are slightlyspaced throughout their length with their opposite extremities incontacting engagement.

Secured to the under side of the insole 10 at an appropriate point inits length is a plate 13, and while this plate may be attached totheinsole in any suitable manner, it is preferably provided with cornerprongs adapted to penetrate the insole and be bent against the sidethereof opposite that upon which the plate is arranged. This plate isspaced a slight distance from the insole, the space between these partsdefining a pocket for the reception of one end of the arch-shapedmember, whereby the latter is held associated with the insole.Manifestly the arch-shaped member is arranged so that the same willconform to the archof the foot as illustrated in Fig. 2, and by reasonof the resilient or inherent action of the material from which themember is constructed, the same will automatically and properly adjustitself to the foot during the act of walking and lifting of the foot,thus in addition to serving as a reinforcing element for the shoe,further functioning to support the instep or arch of the foot in itsproper position under all conditions. The use of a plurality of strips11 and 12 in the production of the arch-shaped member, and having thesestrips spaced as described, materially adds to the resiliency of themember as a whole and also prolongs the life of the latter. Theinvention also contemplates the production as an article of manufacture,the insole 10 together with the arch-shaped member attached thereto,whereby these articles may be arranged in any shoe and used with thesame advantage when they are incorporated in the shoe during theproduction of the same.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to haveit understood that what is trative of the preferred embodiment of theinvention, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fallwithin the scope of what is claimed.

herein shown and described is merely illus- The free end of the'springformed by the strips 11 and 12 freely contacts with the adjacent surfaceof the heel rearwardly of the heel whereby to cause the device toinstantly follow the arch of the foot and yieldingly press a ainst thesame at all times. In other Wor s the yielding action of the structurethrough the arrangement specified, causes the device to apply itself tothe instep during any of the usual movements of the foot in the shoe.

In order to maximize the efliciency ofthe support, it is preferred touse the same in connection With shoes employing thin flexible shanks sothat the parts will beautomatically responsive to 4 all strains andweights that are transmitted thereto. This will permit the sole 10 toalways remain in close contact with the arch of the foot.

What is claimed is The combination with an inner sole for a shoe,.of apocket located adjacent the instep part of the same, and a pair .ofresilient strips having their ends connected together at one end thereofand fitting in the pocket,

said strips having their opposite ends free and' contacting, and thelowermost strip having free and constant contact with the heel of theshoe.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EUGENE CARAVIA.

